webnovelvip Chapter 179 The Challenge of a Love Rival
Chapter 179 The Challenge of a Love Rival
The performance took place in the auditorium next to the hotel. As the stage lights changed, a carefully choreographed band performance began.
The melodious tunes, accompanied by the wonderful performance, drew continuous applause and captivated the audience.
Even after the performance ended, the audience didn't disperse. Instead, they gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves immensely.
Lu Yuanzheng was having a lively conversation with several young people who were doing Internet engineering. As a reborn person, he was well aware of what would happen in the future, so he shared some of his "insights".
After hearing this, everyone found it incredible, but considering the development trajectory over the past few years, there seemed to be a pattern to follow.
As a result, everyone began to look at Lu Yuan with even more admiration.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Xia Anqi carrying two glasses of juice, quietly walking up to Ye Yixian's side.
Xia Anqi smiled sweetly and said softly to Ye Yixian, "Ye Yixian, it's too stuffy in there, I'm feeling a little dizzy. Would you like to come with me for a walk along that tree-lined path over there to get some fresh air?"
That excuse was absolutely perfect.
Although Ye Yixian felt a little uneasy, he couldn't refuse in public when faced with Xia Anqi's weak and boneless appearance, so he could only nod and agree.
She didn't think Xia Anqi could do anything to harm her, after all, there were so many people here, and damaging her image wouldn't benefit Xia Anqi.
Watching the two disappear one after the other along the dark path deep in the garden, Tong Xiaowei, holding a glass of juice, approached Lu Yuan and said casually, "Are you just going to watch? Aren't you going to go and interfere?"
Lu Yuan frowned slightly, but shook his head and smiled.
Under Tong Xiaowei's puzzled gaze, he said, "Don't worry, they both know their place. If I went over there, I might just ruin the atmosphere."
On the other side, Ye Yixian and Xia Anqi were already walking on the road. The summer breeze was cool, and the leaves around them rustled, playing the melody of midsummer.
Xia Anqi, who had just been feeling dizzy, straightened her back instantly and even her steps became sharp as soon as she left the crowd.
She stopped, turned around, stared intently at Ye Yixian, and a half-smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
"Ye Yixian, let's not beat around the bush." Xia Anqi's voice had lost its previous gentleness, instead carrying a sense of authority. "Xiao Wei just told me that Lu Yuan said he has never regretted rejecting my confession."
Xia Anqi took a deep breath, as if those words were a thorn stuck in her heart, making her feel utterly absurd and indignant.
She looked the girl in the ordinary dress up and down, her eyes full of criticism and scrutiny.
"I don't understand, I really don't understand." Xia Anqi took a step closer, her tone aggressive. "What is it about you that makes you so special? Why are you able to attract Lu Yuan?"
Faced with Xia Anqi's barrage of questions, Ye Yixian did not panic or lower his head in self-consciousness as Xia Anqi had expected.
It seems they had anticipated all of this.
She stood quietly in place, meeting Xia Anqi's extremely aggressive gaze, and smiled calmly.
"Xia Anqi, you're right. I really don't have anything special about me." Ye Yixian's voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually clear and steady. "I'm just an ordinary girl. I don't have a prestigious family background, nor do I have any extraordinary talent. If I had to say what's special about me, it would be that I was both unlucky and lucky to have been noticed by Lu Yuan."
Xia Anqi sneered: "Lucky? You think this is lucky?"
"Yes, it's luck." Ye Yixian met her gaze without backing down. "Lu Yuan could see my mediocrity better than anyone else, but he didn't look down on me. Instead, he gave me a lot of care and favoritism."
"I know my own worth, so I know how to be grateful. If he treats me well, I will repay him tenfold. I will not take advantage of his affection to squander it, nor will I use his feelings to gain any benefits. I simply treat him sincerely and regard him as the most important person in my life."
Ye Yixian paused, her eyes becoming extremely serious, and said, "To be honest, someone has already questioned me like this before, back when I wasn't Lu Yuan's girlfriend."
"Who?"
"You should have expected this," Ye Yixian smiled.
"Is it... Xu Lingjing?"
"Hmm, who else could it be but her?"
Clearly, Ye Yixian was the victor in his contest with Xu Lingjing.
Ye Yixian continued, "Lu Yuan is really a good person. In my heart, he is the best person in the world."
"When I had nothing left but my self-respect as a human being, he not only protected my self-respect but also gave me so much. He is a thoughtful and capable person, and I don't know why I don't like such an outstanding person."
Xia Anqi was stunned.
She had imagined that Ye Yixian would argue back, be jealous, or even become hysterical, but she never expected that Ye Yixian would so readily admit his mediocrity, yet so firmly defend his love.
Looking into Ye Yixian's clear, innocent eyes, Xia Anqi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.
She suddenly realized that all the assets she was so proud of seemed pale and powerless in the face of Ye Yixian's pure sincerity.
The world fell into a brief silence.
However, Xia Anqi is Xia Anqi after all. Her inherent pride and obsession would never allow her to admit defeat so easily.
A few seconds later, Xia Anqi suddenly burst out laughing.
That smile held a hint of relief, but even more so, a burning fighting spirit.
"What sincerity, what gratitude, what an outstanding person." Xia Anqi reached out and tidied a stray hair behind her ear, her eyes sharpening again, a provocative smile curving her lips. "Ye Yixian, what you just said didn't make me give up; instead, it made me even more interested in Lu Yuan."
Ye Yixian was slightly taken aback: "What do you mean?"
"It's very simple." Xia Anqi raised her chin slightly, like a proud peacock. "A woman who can train Lu Yuan to be so devoted and make him say 'I will never regret it for a moment' is indeed quite capable. Since you praise him so highly, then I have even less reason not to like him."
She took a step forward, leaned close to Ye Yixian's ear, and declared, word by word, in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Ye Yixian, listen carefully. I will still focus on my studies for the next few years. You had better seize the opportunity during these years. If I come back in the future and you are still like this, then don't blame me."
Ye Yixian felt ashamed; it turned out that Xia Anqi and Xu Lingjing were not the same type of people at all. Such words not only failed to dissuade her, but actually excited her even more.
"So are you declaring war on me?" Ye Yixian asked.
"If that's how you see it, fine," Xia Anqi said haughtily. "You're the first person I've ever been asked to declare war on."
"Alright. I accept your challenge."
Ye Yixian paused for a moment, then said, "Xia Anqi, I know you're not a bad person, you're just too proud. You can't accept losing to someone as ordinary as me, that's why you act this way."
"Nonsense! Can't you just believe that I genuinely like Lu Yuan?"
Xia Anqi said, feeling embarrassed and annoyed, that she felt like she had been wronged by a great injustice.
Ye Yixian felt helpless; it seemed that Xia Anqi would be a troublesome opponent.